Certified Physician Assistants Increase Access to Care for Large Number of Bilingual and Medicaid/Medicare Patients

First Ever State by State Report Highlights Race, Ethnicity,
Income and Student Debt

JOHNS CREEK, Ga.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–For the first time ever, a new report analyzes the demographic and
workforce data of certified PAs on a state by state basis, and the
research highlights the significant ways certified PAs are improving
health care access in every state in the nation. The significant
findings point out that:

Nationally, over 50 percent of patients seen by PAs are covered by
Medicare or Medicaid. PAs in Vermont have the highest percentage of
Medicaid/Medicare patients—60 percent.

Over 22 percent of PAs communicate with their patients in a language
other than English. States with the highest percentages of bilingual
PAs include: California—52 percent, New Mexico—39 percent and Texas—37
percent.

New Mexico has the greatest percentage of ethnically diverse PAs with
19.2 percent identifying as Hispanic. California has the greatest
percentage of racially diverse PAs with almost one-third choosing a
race other than white.

The median salary of all PAs is $95,000 and the median educational
debt is $112,500. PAs in Alaska have the highest salaries.

“This eye opening report highlights the significant and positive changes
that certified PAs bring to the health care delivery system, including
increasing access to quality care for at-risk populations,” says Dawn
Morton-Rias, Ed.D, PA-C, president and CEO of NCCPA. “These data points
amplify the need for serious attention to the issue of racial and ethnic
diversity within the PA profession and we hope to shine a light on these
issues and the need for change.”

Statistics were collected from 89 percent of certified PAs through
NCCPA’s PA Profile. You can view each state’s profile in the complete
report.

About the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

The National
Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is the
only certifying organization for physician assistants (PAs) in the
United States. The PA-C credential is awarded by NCCPA to PAs who
fulfill certification, certification maintenance and recertification
requirements. There are more than 108,500 certified PAs in the U.S.
today.